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How do you organize an international conference featuring several parallel program tracks, hundreds of participants and rich supporting content, while keeping everything at a single location? A prime example is OTMC 2026, an international conference held at Hotel Pinija in Petrčane, which showcased the capabilities of the hotel's Congress & Event Centre Zadar and the entire resort for executing complex business events.
Over three days, the conference brought together 450 participants from 32 countries, alongside 126 speakers and panelists. The program linked the fields of project management, civil engineering and digital transformation, taking place simultaneously across three program tracks. Such a format required the coordination of multiple halls, meeting spaces and exhibition content, alongside well-designed breaks and opportunities for informal participant networking.
Multiple halls and formats within a single complex
OTMC 2026 was organized in cooperation with the non-profit organization HUKI (Croatian Office for Creativity and Innovation), the Croatian Association for Project Management (IPMA Croatia), the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Zagreb and Bexel, a company developing project management software for the construction industry. The program was further enriched by the BEXEL User Day and the IPMA Council of Delegates.
HUKI was in charge of the organization, already well known for organizing events such as the LEAP Summit, co-organizing TEDxZagreb and promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, societal development, social innovation and education on new and creative ways of solving modern challenges. The execution of the event demonstrated the importance of an adaptable event venue capable of supporting the diverse needs of an international conference at the same time. The Donat and Forum halls in the Congress & Event Centre were used for this purpose. Donat served as the central conference hall, hosting the ceremonial opening, while the flexible space of the Forum hall enabled the organization of parallel lectures and sections, as well as accommodating additional exhibition content.
The program expanded into other areas of the hotel as well. The Riva and Foša halls, along with the Business Corner, were used for lectures, full-day meetings and smaller business formats. The area in front of the Forum hall was utilized for participant registration, while the bars, restaurants and terrace of the Congress & Event Centre became part of the conference logistics and an essential element of the participant experience.
Beyond conference halls: networking, gastronomy and the destination experience
The meetings industry offer at Hotel Pinija does not end with the official business program. During OTMC 2026, additional amenities were used to connect the conference program with gastronomy, socializing, wellness and the destination experience.
The Welcome Networking was held on the terrace of the Congress & Event Centre by the fountain, featuring a music program and a selection of hot and cold canapés. The culinary aspect was covered by the Mediteran buffet restaurant and the Lanterna à la carte restaurant, offering food tailored to various dietary requirements of the participants.
Evening socializing moved to Beach Bar Bura, located right by the sea, where the more formal part of the conference was replaced by relaxed networking. The program also included a guided tour of Zadar's historical city center and a boat excursion through the Zadar archipelago accompanied by a DJ set. Participants had access to the hotel's Wellness & Spa facilities during their free time.
This concept allows organizers to shape a business event into a complete experience, where professional content is complemented by opportunities for participant networking and discovering the destination. The proximity of the sea and the city of Zadar opens up space for designing extra activities without the need to organize the entire program outside the hotel complex.
From international conferences to specialized business gatherings
Over two years of operation, the Congress & Event Centre has proven the value of flexible space and the ability to combine accommodation, conference facilities, gastronomy, networking and entertainment programs. Alongside larger conferences and congresses, Hotel Pinija organizes business meetings, educational sessions, workshops, corporate gatherings and team-building programs throughout the year. It is precisely for these types of events that organizers increasingly seek a location where they can unify the business and informal parts of the program without extra transfers or complex logistics.
Notable events include the HIIR conference and Fortinet Security Day, both entrusted to the hotel for two consecutive years. The hotel has also hosted professional gatherings organized by HUKR, as well as events by Energetika Marketing, with whom further cooperation has been agreed. The Adriatic Nautical Business Forum (ANBF) is also returning to Hotel Pinija next year.
Among the significant international events, the TouRisK conference stands out, dedicated to security, crisis management and tourism, which gathered more than 200 participants. The conference program also encompasses professional and scientific meetings in the field of medicine, including the Oncology Symposium, which has already established itself as a recurring event at the hotel, as well as the Congress of Radiologists and the Burn Congress.
The diversity of topics ranging from finance, energy and cybersecurity to nautical business, tourism and medicine, demonstrates the adaptability of the space to different profiles of organizers and participants. At the same time, repeat bookings by organizers highlight the importance of execution quality and cooperation with the hotel team throughout the entire process.
Hotel Pinija aims to develop as a partner to organizers rather than just a venue for hosting events from the initial inquiry and planning to the execution of the final program details. It is precisely the combination of flexible spaces, hotel amenities, gastronomy and a seafront location that forms the foundation of its meetings industry offer for organizers who wish to combine a business program, accommodation and supporting activities all in one place.
